In the early 1980s, the National Natural Science Foundation was put forward by 89 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in a letter to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, with the aim of promoting the reform of China's science and technology system and changing the allocation of scientific research funds.

Subsequently, under the cordial care of Comrade Deng Xiaoping, the State Council approved the establishment of the National Natural Science Foundation of People's Republic of China (PRC) in February 1986. The Natural Science Foundation insists on supporting basic research, and gradually forms and develops a funding pattern consisting of three series of research projects, talent projects and environmental conditions projects.

Over the past 30 years, the Natural Science Foundation has made great achievements in promoting the development of basic research of natural sciences in China, promoting the construction of basic disciplines, and discovering and cultivating outstanding scientific and technological talents. In 20021year, 48,700 projects were supported by the National Natural Science Foundation.

Key projects are another important level in the funding system of the National Natural Science Foundation, which mainly support scientific and technological workers to grasp the forefront of world science in combination with national needs and carry out in-depth and systematic innovative research in important research fields or new disciplines with good foundation and accumulation in China.

The overall layout of key projects is basically in accordance with the five-year plan, and the research fields for accepting applications are determined every year, and guidelines are issued to guide applications; The application of key projects should reflect the principle of limited objectives, limited scale and prominent focus, attach importance to cross-cutting and infiltration, and make use of the conditions of existing important scientific bases.